Fall
2004

DNR
establishes technical workgroups

by
Bryan Bunton, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

In an effort to understand complex technical issues involved
in air quality associated with animal feeding operations, the Iowa Department
of Natural Resources (DNR) established three technical workgroups in the
areas of best management practices, ambient air modeling methodology,
and air emissions characterization. The workgroups started meeting in
February 2004. The mission of the technical workgroups is to determine
air emissions characterization tools and techniques, ambient air modeling
methodologies, and best management practices that can be used to estimate
and mitigate air quality effects that may occur as a result of air emissions
from animal feeding operations, and to provide this information to the
public.

For the workgroups, DNR solicited participation from
organizations with working knowledge of agricultural practices and technical
expertise. Workgroup participants include U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Iowa State University, University of Iowa, Iowa Department of
Public Health, Iowa Department of Economic Development, National Soil
Tilth Laboratory, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Iowa State
Association of Counties, Izaac Walton League, Iowa Air Emissions Assistance
Program, the Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club, and DNR. Agricultural commodity
groups and industrial associations also were invited to participate, but
declined.

The charge of the best management practices workgroup
is to identify practices to mitigate emissions, determine the effectiveness
of the practices, and consider additional parameters such as associated
cost, availability, and potential environmental impacts. The group is
focusing on practices that reduce hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, dust and
odor. The emissions characterization workgroup is determining the source
of pollutants, determine which source(s) contribute the most to the atmosphere,
and find emissions factors that accurately characterize emissions. Hydrogen
sulfide, ammonia, dust, methane and odor are all being considered. The
modeling workgroup is determining which models, if any, could accurately
predict air pollutant concentrations downwind from an animal feeding operation
and to consider the cost, user skill, and equipment needed to run such
a model.

Since a critical
component to the workgroup activities is to provide information to the
public, the DNR plans to issue a comprehensive final report in December,
2004. The report will contain relevant information as well as outline
any conclusions and recommendations reached by the three groups. For additional
information on the technical workgroups, please visit the DNR Air Quality
Bureau’s animal feeding operations Web page located at http://www.iowadnr.com/air/afo/afo.html

Credits:Iowa
Manure Matters: Odor and Nutrient Management is published
by Iowa State University Extension,
with funding support from the USDA
Natural Resource Conservation Service through Cooperative Agreement
No. 74-6114-8-22. To subscribe or change the address of a current subscription,
write to Angela Rieck-Hinz, 2104 Agronomy Hall, Iowa State University,
Ames, Iowa, 50011-1010 or call 515-294-9590, fax 515-294-9985 or email:
amrieck@iastate.edu. Please indicate
you are inquiring about the Odor and Nutrient Management Newsletter. The
newsletter's coordinators are Angela
Rieck-Hinz, extension program specialist, Department of Agronomy,
Wendy Powers, environmental extension
specialist, Department of Animal Science, and Robert
Burns, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; the
editor is Jean McGuire, the
subscription manager is Rachel Klein,
the production designer is Beth Kroeschell,
and the web page designer is Liisa
Jarvinen.

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